Projectile.



'No. 667,407. Patented Feb. 5, I90l.

- W. S. SIMS 8. H. P. MERRIAM.

PRO-I ECTILE.

(Application filed. Mar. 17, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I (No Model.)

No. 667,407. Patented Feb. 5, lam. w. s. sms & a. P. MERRVIAM.

PRO JECTILE.

(Applicatiqn filed Mar. 17, 1900.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

(m Nodal.)

No. 667,407. Patented Feb. 5, I901. W. S. SIMS & H. P. MERRIAM.

P BOJ E C T l L E.

[Application filed Mar. 17, 1 900.

3 Sheeis-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WINFIELD SCOTT SIMS AND HENRY'P. MERRIAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y

PROJECTlLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Le ters Patent No. 667,407, dated February 5, 1901. Application filed March 17, 1900. Serial Ila. 9,112. (No model.)

county of New York and State of New York,

. of parts, as will be more fully explained, and

,view of same.

have invented ce tain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

Qnr invention relates to an improvement in projectiles designed more particularly for use with the highex losive gun patentedFebruary 7,1899, to Winfield S. Sims, No. 619,025; and it consists in the parts and combinations pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aviewin section of a portion of theSims gun, showing our improved projectile therein. Fig. 2'is a view in longitudinal section of the projectile. Fig.3 is an enlarged view, in side elevation, of the tailpiece. Fig. 4 is an end the head, showing the centering-stud. Fig. 6

is a view in longitudinal section of a modified form, and Figs. 7 and 8 are views of modified constructions.

Arepresents a projectile made up of aseries of sections detachably secured together. In Fig.2 the body portion of the projectile s shown composed of two sections, whereas in Fig. 6 it is made up of four body-sections. These sections 1 and 2 are preferably made of steel tubing, the adjacent ends of the sections being threaded internally to engage the externally-threaded flange 4 of the metal diaphragm 3. While the explosion of a charge in one chamber would probably be communicated to the charge in the adjacent chainher through an-imperforate diaphragm, still to render the detonation of the explosive in all the chambers absolutely certain and simultaneous the diaphragms connecting the several chambers are perforated, as clearly shown inLF'ig. 2. The chambers 1 and 2 are preferably lined with paper and filled with explosive gelatin, and it will be seen that by making the projectile in sections and interposiug diaphragm between the sections the charge is subdivided and-the intensity of the shock also subdivided, thnslesseningthe Fig. 5 is an end elevation of.

possibility of premature explosion by the t shoci; of discharge.

To the front end of cylindrical section 1 is secured the head 5, madein sections, as shown, and carrying afnsc and dryguncotton detonator 6, the latter extending rearwardly into the front end of the section 1 of the body of the projectile. The

front end of this head is made to conform to the general contour of the head of the ordinary projectilefland the body thereof which is connected directly to the tube 1 is provided.

with a series of studs 7, which maintain the subcalil: ,r projectile centrally within the smooth bo e f the projectile tube 8.

If there be more than two sections of he body of the projectile, we prefer to make all. y

but the rear one 2 cylindrical, the latter being preferably tapering or conical, with its smaller end at the rear. This. smaller end carries the tail-block 9, which may be brazed or otherwise secured to the section 2, and the.

tail-block 9 carries the tail-rod 10 and the,

hollow bell-shapedtailpiece. The rod 10 passes through and beyond the tailpiece 11c and bears against the breech-block 12, so as to port 13, while the bell-shaped tailpiece 11 is made to snugly fit the bore of the projectiletube 8 and assists the lugs 7 in holding the projectile centrally within the bore and also insure positionofprojectile in advance of the acts as a gas-check. By constructing the nally-threaded flanges of the diaphragm, ltis apparent that the diaphragm may have femalethreaded flanges toengage external threads of the sections, as shown in Fig. 7 or the diaphragm may be set between the adja cent ends of two sections and the parts secured by sleeves, as shown in Fig. 8;

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the body portion of the projectile is made npof four sections, the rear section being cylindrical and secured directly to the smaller end of the tailpiece 11.

.with its wings, is made efi'ective for securing steadiness in flight.

It is evident tnat changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding our nvention, and hence we would have it understood that We do not restrict ourselves to the particular construction and arrangei'nent of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described on r invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

r 1.- A projectile for high explosives comprising a body the rear portion of which is made tapering or conical and a bell shaped hollow tailpiece forming a permanent part of the pro,- j'ectile and attached to the smaller end of said conical portion, the'said bell-shaped tailpiece having a series of external oblique wings, and adapted to closely fit the bore of the gun and act as a gas-check.

2. A projectile for high explosives compris ing a body the rear portion of which is made tapering or conical, and a bell-shaped tailpiece forming a permanent part of the projectile and having a series of external oblique wings, the rear end of said bell-shaped tailpiece beingo'f greater diameter than the body of the projectile and adapted to secure steady flight of the projectile both by reason of the drag and by the rotation caused by the Wings. 3. A projectile for high explosives comprisa tail-rod and provided ing a head, an enlarged flaring piece iorming'a permanent partof the project ile and provided with external oblique wings, a sectionalbody, and diaphragins located at the junctnres of the body-sections.

4;. A projectile for high explosives comprising a head, an enlarged flaring hollow tailpiece fortnin g a permanent. part of the proj ect-Q ile, and having external oblique wings, a sectional body and diaphragnis having flanges for connecting the sections of the body. substantially as set forth.

5. A. projectile for high ex plosi ves comprising a body and an enlarged flaring hollow hollow tailtailpiece, the latter forming a permanent part of the projectile and having external oblique wings. I

' U. A projectile i'orltigh explosi es omprising a body, a head having centorii lugs, and a bell-shaped tailpiece the latter forming a permanent part of the projectile and having a series oi external oblique wings.

7 A projectile for high explosives comprising a body, a head having ",ientering-l ugs, and a bell-shaped tailpicct-i the latter forinii'tg a permanent part of the projectile and carrying externally with a series of oblique wings.

8, A projectile for high explosives comprising a body made n p of sections detachalily secured together at their adjacent endsQa head secured to the front section of the body and provided with a series of centeringdugs, and a bell-shaped tailpiece seen red to the rear section and forming a permanent part of the projectile, the hellshaped tailpiece being of greater diameter than the body of the projectile and provided with a series of external wings.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence 0E two subscribi ng; witnesses.

W'INFIELD SC TT SIMS. HENRY P. till lititlAM.

Witnesses.

FRANK H. GARVIN, H. F. FOEVERT. 

